House Batteries

[mbrund]

Well it's about that time to replace batteries. The RV has been over
at the body shop waiting on parts from Blue Bird (seems they can't get
parts shipped out of Blue Bird these days since the change over. Been
waiting 4 weeks for a dang bumper that has been sitting on their
shelf). In the mean time, since the body shop does not have a 50 AMP
plug, my house batteries went to 0 volts. Well they where on their
last leg anyway!

So going to replace all 8 GEL CELLS with 8 new AGM batteries. I got a
qoute for 8 new DEKA AGM @ $151 each plus taxes. Anyone have any
good/bad experience with DEKA?

I believe the ones I have now are MK (all though they have no name on
them they look just like the MK with the same handle design).

Michael Brundridge
1992 WB40
Georgetown, TX

[Mike Hohnstein]

I been calling around, comparing to Lifeline AGM.
People that know batteries say the Concord Lifeline is the real deal, but the
220 AH typical for RV use cost 290 bucks ea. The Deka is a 180 AH, but if you
can get them for $150, I would be inclined to go there. Where you get that
price???
Pass it on.
MH
----- Original Message -----
From: mbrund
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 12:32 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] House Batteries


Well it's about that time to replace batteries. The RV has been over
at the body shop waiting on parts from Blue Bird (seems they can't get
parts shipped out of Blue Bird these days since the change over. Been
waiting 4 weeks for a dang bumper that has been sitting on their
shelf). In the mean time, since the body shop does not have a 50 AMP
plug, my house batteries went to 0 volts. Well they where on their
last leg anyway!

So going to replace all 8 GEL CELLS with 8 new AGM batteries. I got a
qoute for 8 new DEKA AGM @ $151 each plus taxes. Anyone have any
good/bad experience with DEKA?

I believe the ones I have now are MK (all though they have no name on
them they look just like the MK with the same handle design).

Michael Brundridge
1992 WB40
Georgetown, TX





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Pete Masterson]

Previous owner of my coach installed Deka AGMs (6 house model 4D, 3
engine (smaller) batteries). I still have the engine batteries --
they seem to be ok, but the house batteries were replaced since the
Link 2000 R controller had been 'reset' sometime during the 6 months
the coach sat in dealer's lots between the previous owner and myself.
The batteries were being overcharged during that time and for several
months after -- until I figured out what was going wrong. The
overcharging seriously shorted the life of the batteries.

I replaced my 6 house batteries with Fullriver 8A4D AGM, 216 AH -- at
about $500 each. (These are big batteries -- about 150 lbs. each.)
The one problem presented by the Fullriver batteries was that they
were about 1/2 inch wider than the Dekas ... and I ended up having
to modify the battery trays and mounting system to accommodate them.

I would have gotten Deka batteries as a replacement, but I was unable
to locate them in this area.

What model Deka batteries are used in your coach? At $151, they sound
like they're much smaller than the class 4D used in my coach.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
El Sobrante CA
aeonix1@...



On Sep 23, 2007, at 10:32 PM, mbrund wrote:

> Well it's about that time to replace batteries. The RV has been over
> at the body shop waiting on parts from Blue Bird (seems they can't get
> parts shipped out of Blue Bird these days since the change over. Been
> waiting 4 weeks for a dang bumper that has been sitting on their
> shelf). In the mean time, since the body shop does not have a 50 AMP
> plug, my house batteries went to 0 volts. Well they where on their
> last leg anyway!
>
> So going to replace all 8 GEL CELLS with 8 new AGM batteries. I got a
> qoute for 8 new DEKA AGM @ $151 each plus taxes. Anyone have any
> good/bad experience with DEKA?
>
> I believe the ones I have now are MK (all though they have no name on
> them they look just like the MK with the same handle design).
>
> Michael Brundridge
> 1992 WB40
> Georgetown, TX
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[mbrund]

Mike,

The AH rating you are quouting would be for either 4D's or 8D's. The
Lifeline 4D is rated at 210AH, the 8D is rated at 255AH. The 1992
WB40's use Group 31 batteries, at least mine does. So they are not
the group size.

If you found someplace that sells Lifeline 8D or even 4D AGM's for
$290, I would buy everyone they had at that price, low advertised
retail is around $450 on that battery.

Also, anyone looking at purchasing batteries anytime soon. I would
do it sooner than later, battery prices have had a huge increase over
the last couple months and will probably continue to do so for the
near future....

Michael Brundridge
92 WB40
Georgetown, TX



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein"
<MHOHNSTEIN@...> wrote:
>
> I been calling around, comparing to Lifeline AGM.
> People that know batteries say the Concord Lifeline is the real
deal, but the 220 AH typical for RV use cost 290 bucks ea. The Deka
is a 180 AH, but if you can get them for $150, I would be inclined to
go there. Where you get that price???
> Pass it on.
> MH
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: mbrund
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 12:32 AM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] House Batteries
>
>
> Well it's about that time to replace batteries. The RV has been
over
> at the body shop waiting on parts from Blue Bird (seems they
can't get
> parts shipped out of Blue Bird these days since the change over.
Been
> waiting 4 weeks for a dang bumper that has been sitting on their
> shelf). In the mean time, since the body shop does not have a 50
AMP
> plug, my house batteries went to 0 volts. Well they where on
their
> last leg anyway!
>
> So going to replace all 8 GEL CELLS with 8 new AGM batteries. I
got a
> qoute for 8 new DEKA AGM @ $151 each plus taxes. Anyone have any
> good/bad experience with DEKA?
>
> I believe the ones I have now are MK (all though they have no
name on
> them they look just like the MK with the same handle design).
>
> Michael Brundridge
> 1992 WB40
> Georgetown, TX
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[Don Bradner]

Lifeline 6 volt AGMs are 220AH. I don't think the original poster ever said what
batteries, so lots of assumptions.

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Posting today by Satellite from Golden, Colorado

On 9/24/2007 at 6:06 PM mbrund wrote:

>Mike,
>
>The AH rating you are quouting would be for either 4D's or 8D's. The
>Lifeline 4D is rated at 210AH, the 8D is rated at 255AH. The 1992
>WB40's use Group 31 batteries, at least mine does. So they are not
>the group size.
>
>If you found someplace that sells Lifeline 8D or even 4D AGM's for
>$290, I would buy everyone they had at that price, low advertised
>retail is around $450 on that battery.
>
>Also, anyone looking at purchasing batteries anytime soon. I would
>do it sooner than later, battery prices have had a huge increase over
>the last couple months and will probably continue to do so for the
>near future....
>
>Michael Brundridge
>92 WB40
>Georgetown, TX
>
>
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein"
><MHOHNSTEIN@...> wrote:
>>
>> I been calling around, comparing to Lifeline AGM.
>> People that know batteries say the Concord Lifeline is the real
>deal, but the 220 AH typical for RV use cost 290 bucks ea. The Deka
>is a 180 AH, but if you can get them for $150, I would be inclined to
>go there. Where you get that price???
>> Pass it on.
>> MH
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: mbrund
>> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 12:32 AM
>> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] House Batteries
>>
>>
>> Well it's about that time to replace batteries. The RV has been
>over
>> at the body shop waiting on parts from Blue Bird (seems they
>can't get
>> parts shipped out of Blue Bird these days since the change over.
>Been
>> waiting 4 weeks for a dang bumper that has been sitting on their
>> shelf). In the mean time, since the body shop does not have a 50
>AMP
>> plug, my house batteries went to 0 volts. Well they where on
>their
>> last leg anyway!
>>
>> So going to replace all 8 GEL CELLS with 8 new AGM batteries. I
>got a
>> qoute for 8 new DEKA AGM @ $151 each plus taxes. Anyone have any
>> good/bad experience with DEKA?
>>
>> I believe the ones I have now are MK (all though they have no
>name on
>> them they look just like the MK with the same handle design).
>>
>> Michael Brundridge
>> 1992 WB40
>> Georgetown, TX
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

[mbrund]

My coach came with 31DT's from the factory. So the pricing is for
the MK/DEKA 8A31DT (AGM) $172, or 8G31DT (GEL) $151. I have a total
of 8 for a battery bank of 780 AH (GEL) currently. If I switched to
AGM it would increase to 832 AH. I have a regular RV based fridge
and don't dry camp so the GEL battery bank is plenty large enough
with out the added 51AH I would get from AGM.

I prefer the add life that you get from GEL over AGM. Like you said,
the death of most GEL's comes from incorrect charging routines. So to
make sure that I don't incorrectly charge the batteries, I am looking
at either getting a Charles or Balmar 3 stage alternator regulator as
to not incorrectly charge the batteries while the engine is running.
I already have plans to replace the IOTA Converters and old Heart
Inverter with a newer Xantrex Inveter/Charger combo.

Michael Brundridge
92 WB40
Georgetown, TX


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
wrote:
>
> Previous owner of my coach installed Deka AGMs (6 house model 4D,
3
> engine (smaller) batteries). I still have the engine batteries --
> they seem to be ok, but the house batteries were replaced since
the
> Link 2000 R controller had been 'reset' sometime during the 6
months
> the coach sat in dealer's lots between the previous owner and
myself.
> The batteries were being overcharged during that time and for
several
> months after -- until I figured out what was going wrong. The
> overcharging seriously shorted the life of the batteries.
>
> I replaced my 6 house batteries with Fullriver 8A4D AGM, 216 AH --
at
> about $500 each. (These are big batteries -- about 150 lbs. each.)
> The one problem presented by the Fullriver batteries was that they
> were about 1/2 inch wider than the Dekas ... and I ended up having
> to modify the battery trays and mounting system to accommodate
them.
>
> I would have gotten Deka batteries as a replacement, but I was
unable
> to locate them in this area.
>
> What model Deka batteries are used in your coach? At $151, they
sound
> like they're much smaller than the class 4D used in my coach.
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> El Sobrante CA
> aeonix1@...
>
>
>
> On Sep 23, 2007, at 10:32 PM, mbrund wrote:
>
> > Well it's about that time to replace batteries. The RV has been
over
> > at the body shop waiting on parts from Blue Bird (seems they
can't get
> > parts shipped out of Blue Bird these days since the change over.
Been
> > waiting 4 weeks for a dang bumper that has been sitting on their
> > shelf). In the mean time, since the body shop does not have a 50
AMP
> > plug, my house batteries went to 0 volts. Well they where on
their
> > last leg anyway!
> >
> > So going to replace all 8 GEL CELLS with 8 new AGM batteries. I
got a
> > qoute for 8 new DEKA AGM @ $151 each plus taxes. Anyone have any
> > good/bad experience with DEKA?
> >
> > I believe the ones I have now are MK (all though they have no
name on
> > them they look just like the MK with the same handle design).
> >
> > Michael Brundridge
> > 1992 WB40
> > Georgetown, TX
> >
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[mbrund]

Don,

You are correct, there are too many battery possibilites and
assumptions (4D, 8D, 27D, 31D, 31DT, 4C, etc.)

My info is all based on MK/DEKA 8x31DT BCI group size.

cheers,
Michael Brundridge
92 WB40
Georgetown, TX


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> Lifeline 6 volt AGMs are 220AH. I don't think the original poster
ever said what batteries, so lots of assumptions.
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Posting today by Satellite from Golden, Colorado
>
> On 9/24/2007 at 6:06 PM mbrund wrote:
>
> >Mike,
> >
> >The AH rating you are quouting would be for either 4D's or 8D's.
The
> >Lifeline 4D is rated at 210AH, the 8D is rated at 255AH. The 1992
> >WB40's use Group 31 batteries, at least mine does. So they are
not
> >the group size.
> >
> >If you found someplace that sells Lifeline 8D or even 4D AGM's for
> >$290, I would buy everyone they had at that price, low advertised
> >retail is around $450 on that battery.
> >
> >Also, anyone looking at purchasing batteries anytime soon. I
would
> >do it sooner than later, battery prices have had a huge increase
over
> >the last couple months and will probably continue to do so for the
> >near future....
> >
> >Michael Brundridge
> >92 WB40
> >Georgetown, TX
> >
> >
> >
> >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein"
> ><MHOHNSTEIN@> wrote:
> >>
> >> I been calling around, comparing to Lifeline AGM.
> >> People that know batteries say the Concord Lifeline is the real
> >deal, but the 220 AH typical for RV use cost 290 bucks ea. The
Deka
> >is a 180 AH, but if you can get them for $150, I would be inclined
to
> >go there. Where you get that price???
> >> Pass it on.
> >> MH
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: mbrund
> >> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> >> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 12:32 AM
> >> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] House Batteries
> >>
> >>
> >> Well it's about that time to replace batteries. The RV has
been
> >over
> >> at the body shop waiting on parts from Blue Bird (seems they
> >can't get
> >> parts shipped out of Blue Bird these days since the change
over.
> >Been
> >> waiting 4 weeks for a dang bumper that has been sitting on
their
> >> shelf). In the mean time, since the body shop does not have a
50
> >AMP
> >> plug, my house batteries went to 0 volts. Well they where on
> >their
> >> last leg anyway!
> >>
> >> So going to replace all 8 GEL CELLS with 8 new AGM batteries.
I
> >got a
> >> qoute for 8 new DEKA AGM @ $151 each plus taxes. Anyone have
any
> >> good/bad experience with DEKA?
> >>
> >> I believe the ones I have now are MK (all though they have no
> >name on
> >> them they look just like the MK with the same handle design).
> >>
> >> Michael Brundridge
> >> 1992 WB40
> >> Georgetown, TX
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>

[mbrund]

Correction, I flipped the prices in the response below. The prices I
got where; GEL (8G31DT) = $172, AGM (8ADT31) = $151

Sorry about that...

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbrund" <mbrund@...> wrote:
>
> My coach came with 31DT's from the factory. So the pricing is for
> the MK/DEKA 8A31DT (AGM) $172, or 8G31DT (GEL) $151. I have a
total
> of 8 for a battery bank of 780 AH (GEL) currently. If I switched
to
> AGM it would increase to 832 AH. I have a regular RV based fridge
> and don't dry camp so the GEL battery bank is plenty large enough
> with out the added 51AH I would get from AGM.
>
> I prefer the add life that you get from GEL over AGM. Like you
said,
> the death of most GEL's comes from incorrect charging routines. So
to
> make sure that I don't incorrectly charge the batteries, I am
looking
> at either getting a Charles or Balmar 3 stage alternator regulator
as
> to not incorrectly charge the batteries while the engine is
running.
> I already have plans to replace the IOTA Converters and old Heart
> Inverter with a newer Xantrex Inveter/Charger combo.
>
> Michael Brundridge
> 92 WB40
> Georgetown, TX
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> wrote:
> >
> > Previous owner of my coach installed Deka AGMs (6 house model 4D,
> 3
> > engine (smaller) batteries). I still have the engine batteries --

> > they seem to be ok, but the house batteries were replaced since
> the
> > Link 2000 R controller had been 'reset' sometime during the 6
> months
> > the coach sat in dealer's lots between the previous owner and
> myself.
> > The batteries were being overcharged during that time and for
> several
> > months after -- until I figured out what was going wrong. The
> > overcharging seriously shorted the life of the batteries.
> >
> > I replaced my 6 house batteries with Fullriver 8A4D AGM, 216 AH --

> at
> > about $500 each. (These are big batteries -- about 150 lbs.
each.)
> > The one problem presented by the Fullriver batteries was that
they
> > were about 1/2 inch wider than the Dekas ... and I ended up
having
> > to modify the battery trays and mounting system to accommodate
> them.
> >
> > I would have gotten Deka batteries as a replacement, but I was
> unable
> > to locate them in this area.
> >
> > What model Deka batteries are used in your coach? At $151, they
> sound
> > like they're much smaller than the class 4D used in my coach.
> >
> > Pete Masterson
> > '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> > El Sobrante CA
> > aeonix1@
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sep 23, 2007, at 10:32 PM, mbrund wrote:
> >
> > > Well it's about that time to replace batteries. The RV has
been
> over
> > > at the body shop waiting on parts from Blue Bird (seems they
> can't get
> > > parts shipped out of Blue Bird these days since the change
over.
> Been
> > > waiting 4 weeks for a dang bumper that has been sitting on their
> > > shelf). In the mean time, since the body shop does not have a
50
> AMP
> > > plug, my house batteries went to 0 volts. Well they where on
> their
> > > last leg anyway!
> > >
> > > So going to replace all 8 GEL CELLS with 8 new AGM batteries.
I
> got a
> > > qoute for 8 new DEKA AGM @ $151 each plus taxes. Anyone have
any
> > > good/bad experience with DEKA?
> > >
> > > I believe the ones I have now are MK (all though they have no
> name on
> > > them they look just like the MK with the same handle design).
> > >
> > > Michael Brundridge
> > > 1992 WB40
> > > Georgetown, TX
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>

[Mike Hohnstein]

I'm a little foggy on battery lingo, told the Lifeline warehouse in Chicago area
(Aurora) that I was looking for size parity with T 105s, he quoted the numbers I
posted, 220 AH @ $290 ea. I verified that is correct information, and 4D size
wasn't discussed. The unanswered question is where did you get the 150 dollar
price on the Dekas? If the price is on group 31 12v, never mind. My
applications require T 105, golf cart batteries. Chicago Deka warehouse quoted,
4D @ 198AH $354. Waiting to hear what they will do T105s for.
MH
----- Original Message -----
From: mbrund
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 1:06 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: House Batteries


Mike,

The AH rating you are quouting would be for either 4D's or 8D's. The
Lifeline 4D is rated at 210AH, the 8D is rated at 255AH. The 1992
WB40's use Group 31 batteries, at least mine does. So they are not
the group size.

If you found someplace that sells Lifeline 8D or even 4D AGM's for
$290, I would buy everyone they had at that price, low advertised
retail is around $450 on that battery.

Also, anyone looking at purchasing batteries anytime soon. I would
do it sooner than later, battery prices have had a huge increase over
the last couple months and will probably continue to do so for the
near future....

Michael Brundridge
92 WB40
Georgetown, TX

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein"
<MHOHNSTEIN@...> wrote:
>
> I been calling around, comparing to Lifeline AGM.
> People that know batteries say the Concord Lifeline is the real
deal, but the 220 AH typical for RV use cost 290 bucks ea. The Deka
is a 180 AH, but if you can get them for $150, I would be inclined to
go there. Where you get that price???
> Pass it on.
> MH
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: mbrund
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 12:32 AM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] House Batteries
>
>
> Well it's about that time to replace batteries. The RV has been
over
> at the body shop waiting on parts from Blue Bird (seems they
can't get
> parts shipped out of Blue Bird these days since the change over.
Been
> waiting 4 weeks for a dang bumper that has been sitting on their
> shelf). In the mean time, since the body shop does not have a 50
AMP
> plug, my house batteries went to 0 volts. Well they where on
their
> last leg anyway!
>
> So going to replace all 8 GEL CELLS with 8 new AGM batteries. I
got a
> qoute for 8 new DEKA AGM @ $151 each plus taxes. Anyone have any
> good/bad experience with DEKA?
>
> I believe the ones I have now are MK (all though they have no
name on
> them they look just like the MK with the same handle design).
>
> Michael Brundridge
> 1992 WB40
> Georgetown, TX
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Don Bradner]

I know that battery prices have been increasing, but for reference I purchased 6
Lifeline 6-volt Golf Cart 220AH batteries on January 12th of this year, and the
bill was $1298.57 which I think included something like 9.25% tax. Purchased in
Quartzsite from Solar Bill's.

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Posting today by Satellite from Golden, Colorado

On 9/24/2007 at 2:09 PM Mike Hohnstein wrote:

>I'm a little foggy on battery lingo, told the Lifeline warehouse in
>Chicago area (Aurora) that I was looking for size parity with T 105s, he
>quoted the numbers I posted, 220 AH @ $290 ea. I verified that is correct
>information, and 4D size wasn't discussed. The unanswered question is
>where did you get the 150 dollar price on the Dekas? If the price is on
>group 31 12v, never mind. My applications require T 105, golf cart
>batteries. Chicago Deka warehouse quoted, 4D @ 198AH $354. Waiting to
>hear what they will do T105s for.
>MH